Praises...

After fussing for a moment and I sighing at the oh so imperfect napping time, this is what I found. Not sure what all the fussing was about but he looked like a little comfy man and slept for another hour, yeah! Lily not walking in and seeing the following...


Dax managing to get the Polly Pockets safely back to the counter without himself, his brother, or the dog harming a hair on their precious little plastic heads!

Not as much whining as yesterday!

Have actually started sorting and packing for Ohio trip.

American Idol night! Now I know you may think I say this every week and that I'm a little nuts, but I know that my kids are dancing and out there many hours from here my dad is enjoying a couple of hours where the music somehow reaches through. Since we've moved, there has always been a little pleasure knowing that the rest of my family was out there somewhere watching the same thing. Always made for good discussion. My favorite for this week...



Quotes & Memorable moments...

Finn is starting to forget that he can't stand and do it more and more without holding on. Of course as soon as he notices he quickly sinks to the floor.

Dax and Finn spent lots of time "wrestling" today. Rolling over each other, giving each other "zerbets", giggling together. I love seeing them turning into real brothers & buddies!

Dax dancing to American Idol...there are some serious questions about the boys rhythm, too bad he can't get a good Papa lesson to "you dropped a Bomb on me" I think that would fix him up!

Praises...

Finally getting the pictures of Lily's "photo shoot" up. If you scroll down the side you'll find them under slideshows.

Friends who understand and let you ramble.

Insurance!!!

More Antibiotics! We have 4 ear infections, one with a ruptured membrane.

Children's Motrin!

The knowledge that they will feel better soon, and there is good prognosis that the whining will cease.

Chatting with my brother.

Humor, even in the midst of sadness.

Quotes & Memorable moments...

hmmmm....well let's see today's most memorable moments involve Dax pulling out the stirrups, turning the lights on and off, climbing on the table, climbing out of the straps on the stroller, climbing under the stroller, and being belted back in the stroller so tight that he couldn't get out which led to extreme screaming as if he was being beaten, which lasted for a good ten minutes. All of these lovely things occurred in the pediatrician's office during Finn's appointment. I should have known right then that Dax was sick too, because although not an angel, that is off the wall behavior even for him! But, he told me he was fine.

This was followed by a trip to Walmart to pick up meds. I've never gone on a rant here before but, I could easily do so on the amount of time it takes the Walmart pharmacy to fill a prescription while you have two small children, one of them hurling items from the back of the cart. There were lectures, threats, hands on the jawline and very quite face to face discussions. And although these happened with Dax, I would have gladly shared the same experiences with the pharmacy employees. Almost an hour from call in to pick up...ridiculous!

The boys fell sweetly to sleep on the way home, I breathed a sigh of relief and carried their soft sleepy little bodies in the house and laid them in their beds. As Dax's head hit the pillow he rolled over and said "My ear hurts". The words I mumbled would not win me a parent of the year award. I responded to him with "well, guess you and Dad will be heading to after hours when he gets home!" And, they did.

Feeling like a horrible mother beacue we'd been dosing Finn up on Orajel & Mylicon thinking his teeth and tummy were the problem, never mind the ruptured ear drum!

So I guess today's memorables, could simply be chalked up under there will be better days and forgotten!

Praises...

Beautiful singing at church this morning with lots of kids and lots of palm branches. It's the beginning of quite a week.

A Sunday School lesson for 7th graders that touched those of us long past 7th grade. (hope the kids got something out of it!)

Focus for what this week is about.

Sunday afternoon naps.

Saturday night trips to dinner and shopping...although next time we might spring for a babysitter!

God given strength.

Siblings. My own, whom I am so grateful for and my children's, because it makes me laugh watching the relationships develop!

My children, everyday they make me laugh and cry and sometimes yell (although I have mostly given that up for Lent) but at the end of each day I can't imagine the sadness of life without them.

Quotes & Memorable adventures...

Dax's Sunday School teacher asked him to park his bike and take a seat at the table this morning, he did as he was asked and said "I'm sorry, I missed you!".

This part is all about Lily...almost! Lily has grown out of loving to play in front of the camera. She runs when I get it out. She hides behind her hand and other things and just is overly non cooperative, which is why you rarely see pictures of her on here. She does have a lot to say, however most of these things really don't make a good blog quote. There are a few exceptions, but for the most part Dax is the highly quotable member of our family right now. Lily once was. It's too bad I didn't do this when she was 2, I could have filled pages each day! Those of you who knew her well at 2 know what I mean! Today she decided to jump in front of the camera, but it had to be on her terms. She set up a "back drop" in honor of Palm Sunday and had some sort of image of what type of pictures she wanted. What she wanted most was for her brothers to go the heck away! The pictures I liked the very best were the ones she didn't realize I was taking and the ones of what was going on outside the back drop area. She didn't quite realize that the back drop wouldn't fill the whole photo if I took a body shot, but that's ok, I wasn't big on body shots anyway.

Ok, I've got it, finally! You will find it listed on the side under slideshows, because I can't figure out how to put it in here! These are in order of how they were taken. I love how long it took Lily to start posing! There is only one giant peach in this shoot, it was funny to watch the progression of the peach. I also greatly enjoyed watching Dax try to mimic his sister's "head tilt" and Finn trying to take the book and bite her. It got to the point where all her attempts at a "serious" photo shoot went right out the window and those are some of the best pictures!

Praises...

I made a dent in the clothing pile in my basement. That place where I take things that are outgrown and store the things that are still too big.

The boys greatly enjoyed throwing piles of clean folded laundry in the air and rolling on them. This was not a praise at the time...but this evening, after I had a long hot shower, I realized that one day, I will not have little boys who take pleasure in such silly things and I will look back on today and somehow miss it.

Boys who enjoy being right with their Mama all the time. Again, this one too became a joy after the hot shower.

A husband who comes home after work, takes the kids out to play, and tells me as I can use all the hot water in the house if I want. I like this guy! I didn't use all the hot water, but I tell you, I am grateful for every drop I did use!

The ability to put this day in perspective now rather than looking back years from now.

Playing outside.

Neighbors that we haven't seen for a while.

Friday night movies on the Disney channel.

Quotables...

The hot water quote mentioned above does deserve rementioning. "I've got the kids, we're gong outside, you use all the hot water in the house." (hhmmm, maybe I just smelled really bad?)

Dax, 15 minutes after tossing all the clothes in the air and rolling on them, he scooped them up, brought them back to me and said, without provocation, "Mommy, I'm sorry I took your clothes and threw them in the air, here they are for you." Finn responded by pushing the pile back on the floor...but hey, gotta look for the little joy of that great apology!

After a very difficult getting to nap day, Dax stumbled out of bed and came out to the family room, looked at me with his sleepy eyes and his bed head and said, "I love you, mommy, will you hold me?"

Is Spring Coming???

There is no baby in this stroller, I promise!

She looks tough, but she's actually just pointing out her bruised elbows...
Coming & going, he's become a master on the scooter!

My happy observer... Finn & Sophie having a moment...Praises...

Playing Outside!!!!

The excitement that a peek of spring can bring.

Chatting with friends.

Catching up with family.

Watching the kids improve their skills on various types of wheeled objects.

Finn still happy to sit in a stroller (I know it won't last long!)

Mike staying awake long enough to discuss Lost.

Quotes & such...

Mike, "Wow, I'm so not confused anymore" sarcastically commenting on the revelations in tonight's episode of Lost

Dax, "Can he ride on the back of my fire truck, mom? Can he play with me??" Hopefully asking for Finn to play outside. Dax has been planning all the things he will do with "Finny" when he is big enough for as long as "my baby, Finny" has been in this world. "He will ride my bike. he will ride my scooter, he will ride with me on the fire truck, he will chase me". And soon...soon it will be so, you can see it in Finn's anxious little grin!

Finn...I'm not sure he gets enough air time in this section. Seems Dax fills most of the space, 2 year olds are quite quotable. Finn's days are coming, I see them right around the corner. My little baby has gotten quite big!

and although he still looks so sweet and innocent much of the time...There is this side of him...this is the side of him I found standing beside the toilet today patting the lid with this same half goofy grin on his cute little face.
I think if he could say more than a handful of words he might have said "Inspector John, from the land of Geotrax needed a closer look at the toilet bowl, mom, so I assisted he and his clipboard on the descent. He reports that we have hard water and you should maybe clean the toilet more than once a week to help prevent the orange buildup..."

Of course, for the moment I'm just making him quotable...soon he there all on his own! For now, I think I'll just shut the bathroom door and send the inspector back to the train station after a nice hot shower.

Praises...

Today is my good friend Amy's birthday! She thinks she's old, I think she's not so much! I even found a postable picture of her, the kind most women like where you can't really see her face, as to protect her privacy...hehe. I was blessed to spend a couple hours with Amy on Sunday, it made me remember how much I miss her! So Happy Birthday Amy! We love you!

March is full of birthdays! Good friends, great grandparents, cousins, uncles, good friend's kids, etc... so, know I love you all and Happy March birthday! This was a month God sent some amazing people into this world! (I'm partial to April & May too, but I'll share those later!)

Dax left church and only cried on his way to the car!

Chicken nuggets, the promise of which stop Dax from crying!

Spending the morning sorting baby clothes for other people!

Extra hands while waiting for Daddy to come to church & during dinner! I't sfunny how little things make life easier!

Jr. High drama! Because, although not fun for them, or for me when I have one of my own, I do so enjoy watching it all unfold! It makes me smile!

American Idol not voting off people I like

Husbands who do dishes without being asked!

Husbands who change the sheets so that their wife doesn't have to come home to a bed filled with oatmeal and yogurt. (Wish I'd been here to blog about how the bed got filled with oatmeal & yogurt!)

Being able to walk through my almost normal days.

Phone calls from mom when she's getting to to baby step through a few minutes of normal in the middle of her crazy days.

Going to bed in a warm bed with four other people sound to sleep in my house peaceful & happy.

Quotables...

Dax, the on going sun saga... Today he found his sun glasses, or at least a pair that Lily has that she may or may not have given him. He promptly put them on and said "Mommy, can you turn on the Sun?"

Praises...

Hot Showers (I think we way overlook that praise!)

Watching little children love each other.

11 month olds who learn an instrument (ok, so it was the Kazoo)

2 year olds who play quite a nice rhythm on the guitar.

Dads who hold their tongue when their children's musical talents almost make them crazy.

Reconnecting

Everyone finally asleep! (wonder how long it will last?)

American Idol night (don't laugh!) Not that you all care, but, my favorites are...





Isn't it amazing how fast they get this stuff on YouTube??

Praises...

Today was Monday, I had no where I had to be other than here with my guys!

Bruises can turn into beautiful shades of color resembling eye make up, which totally amuzes 2 year old boys!

Only one breathing treatment for Finn. Althouhg he did manage to spit up in the nebulizer...is it bad to remist spit up? (I washed it and started over, I'm not that big of a slacker!)

Husbands who come home from work in really good moods for no reason.

Boys who go to bed almost on time.

Girls who get their chores done almost on time.

Chats with mom.

Quotes and such...

"Mom! he's walking!!!" From Dax, about Finn...but alas, he means with his handy dandy little push cart, not with his two feet alone. He has the strength & balance, but so far lacks the faith.

"WHAAAOOO WHOOOAA, thats what my baby says!" Dax, many times throughout the evening for no real reason.

Musical Interludes...

Cutest song sung by a carful of 7th graders...



Cute song from MacBook Air commercial I can't get out of my head so I'm sharing...

Weekend Praises...

Calm ability to deal with blood & screaming child at same time!

Short wait at Medpointe! (short being less than an hour!)

Mom's Day Out..perfect place to drop Finn on my way to Medpointe.

The women who babysit for Mom's Day out!

A great doctor who knows just how to deal with a two year old with a ouchy.

A big sister who is actually kind to her little brother because of his injury.

Afternoon nap between blood and up all night!

A little boy sitting on the potty...trying, makes for great pictures!

Husband who lets me run off with other men & children for the whole night!

Kids who will let me hang out with them.

A car full of giggles and loud music to keep you awake!

Playing all night long!

Being surrounded by great teenagers & adults trying to create a great environment for them.

Long Saturday naps to make up for playing all night long!

Great friends. ( I know I use that one a lot, but sometimes I am just overwhelmed by how blessed I am in that area!)

Long Sunday afternoon drives for long Sunday afternoon lunches.

A husband who tells me to go even when I'm feeling a little bit guilty leaving him again!

Interesting road trip conversations.

Already having a nebulizer machine and meds when the littlest guy starts having asthma attacks. We're gonna hope it an allergen.

Little joys in the journey even when the road is bumpy and people are not so warm and fuzzy!

Quotables...

"Dear lord, please allow _____ to keep her Pie hole shut" This just made me giggle. This was a silent prayer sent up in church Sunday, I will however keep the prayer & person being prayed for private! =)

"Honk it's Grandma's Birthday!" written on a large white sheet. "Honk, Sarah, Honk!!!" screamed by women who are entirely too old.

"I'm sorry I'm speeding...but I really have to Poop!" Bumper sticker that brought on quite a good giggle.

"Daddy, can you turn off the sun?" Dax to Mike "No, I can't turn off the sun." Mike to Dax

"Only Mommies can turn off the sun." Dax...the ever amazing saga of who can turn off the sun.

"I'm all better now, lets go home" Dax, 5 minutes after arriving at Medpointe after lunging into the car seat LATCH and gashing his eyebrow open.

"These funny band aids make me feel much better" Dax's response to people asking him what happened to his head. He thinks those steri strips are the best band aids ever and hasn't tried to take them off yet.